Saildrive Oil Change

Saildrive oil change

VP only said one thing regarding my system. I have the D2-55 operator's manual which came with the boat (May 2002 delivery), and
there has not been a change of oil spec. (for my drive) since my boat was delivered, as far as I know.
The various gearbox and drive options are listed. There are 5 different configurations. For some of them ATF is (was) specified and for others either ATF or 15W/40.

I have attached the relevant page.

Cheers,

Michael.
 
emandvee44 said:
VP only said one thing regarding my system. I have the D2-55 operator's manual which came with the boat (May 2002 delivery), and
there has not been a change of oil spec. (for my drive) since my boat was delivered, as far as I know.
The various gearbox and drive options are listed. There are 5 different configurations. For some of them ATF is (was) specified and for others either ATF or 15W/40.

I have attached the relevant page.

Cheers,

Michael.
Click to expand...

Thats right its only 130S and 150S sail drives for which there has been a change in the specified lubricant from ATF to SAE 15W-40. These drives were fitted to later versions of the D2-55 so the change would apply to there too

I also note, however, that only SAE 15W-40 is specified for MS25A and MS25L gearboxes in the manual for later versions.

The reason for the changes away from ATF remains unknown, at least to me.
 
VicS said:
The reason for the changes away from ATF remains unknown, at least to me.
Click to expand...

I can't give you chapter and verse but I believe it's because Dexron ll and lll are obsolete (in the same sense that CD oil is obsolete, doesn't mean you can't get it but nobody polices the standard which in the case of Dexron belongs to GM) and the current Dexron Vl is not suitable, too slippery for the clutch pack.
It's not just VP, ZF who make the units now also say 15/40.
 
Plevier said:
I can't give you chapter and verse but I believe it's because Dexron ll and lll are obsolete (in the same sense that CD oil is obsolete, doesn't mean you can't get it but nobody polices the standard which in the case of Dexron belongs to GM) and the current Dexron Vl is not suitable, too slippery for the clutch pack.
It's not just VP, ZF who make the units now also say 15/40.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Rings a very faint bell .. perhaps youv'e posted the info before.
 
nigelmercier said:
So if one uses oil as per the original specification, I'm guessing there is no problem?
Click to expand...

You can readily buy from motor factors ATF fluid that claims to comply with Dex ll or lll spec, but of course you can't prove that it does or doesn't, rather like CD spec oil.
However if you trust that it is to Dex ll or lll spec, then for boxes that originally specified ATF, I would imagine you could use it - but as I said I don't have chapter and verse on it.
I'm using 15/40 in a D1-30 and 130 SD (and my co-owner who is ex oil industry insists on big brand stuff e.g. Shell, he went potty when I used Tesco oil.)
In your case though the question is over gear oil for a cone clutch box isn't it? How does the ATF issue affect that?
If the summary of your "hybrid" given earlier in this thread is correct, I reckon I would personally be sticking to the originally recommended gear oil. It strikes me as odd if VP said change from that to 15-40, but I'm not a tribologist. Is that box made by ZF like the later ones? Do they say anything?

Afterthought -I bet there are lots of people who have never caught up with the service bulletin and still use ATF. Let's hope they buy unbranded ATF, not the very expensive Dexron Vl.
 
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